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That’s Fishy…

It’s time for Hodgepodge Wednesday and Joyce has some fishy questions for us this week. I’m eight or nine in this photo and my father was back from a deep see fishing trip where he caught this huge Yellowtail off the coast of Southern California.

1. Have you ever been fishing? Did you catch a fish? If so did you keep it or throw it back? If you haven’t been fishing is that something you’d like to try?

The only fishing I have done is Grunion hunting on the beaches in Southern California when I was very young in the late 50’s. We’d line the beaches in the moonlight and then you’d hear the cry “the grunion are coming, the grunion are coming!” You could see little silvery fish emerge from the waves onto the beach and they would start digging into the sand to lay eggs. We’d have buckets ready and catch them by hand and put them in our bucket. We would then go back to our campground and my mother would cook them on the camp fire.

First, do you know what grunion are? For those not familiar, Grunion are a species of fish that leave the water at night to spawn on beaches during the spring and summer months throughout Southern California. For four consecutive nights, beginning on the nights of the full and new moons, spawning occurs after high tides and continues for several hours. Peak spawning is from late March to early June. Here’s a link to see what grunion looked like on the sand.

Fish out of water, big fish in a small pond, living in a fishbowl, packed in like sardines, this is a fine kettle of fish, plenty of fish in the sea, or cut bait…which fishy phrase most recently applies to some area of your life?

This one is easy, I’m a Fish out of water. We are still trying to figure out if we are truly retired or just unemployed. Every day but Sunday is Saturday at this old house. It’s weird. Dear is here every day instead of leaving to work so my days are up in the air and my roles are up in the air. We are on hold. I know things will come to light sometime in the future. I do enjoy this next kind of fish out of water and on my plate!

I think I’m daylight because of my sunshine tendencies with a smile and always wanting to keep things light.

5. What’s the oldest piece of clothing you own and still wear?

Thankfully it’s not my underwear. I have a pair of vintage warm-up pants I wear for my exercise classes that are my son’s from their junior high and high school soccer days.

6. We’ve got one more month of (officially) winter here in the Northern hemisphere. Are you feeling the need for a getaway? What’s been the best and worst part of your winter so far?

Our trip to California in January for a beautiful wedding, sweet baby shower, family and friend time and beach walks was the best. The worst part of winter is if I have to drive in snow or ice. Not a fan of slip sliding in a vehicle.

7. The Wednesday Hodgepodge lands on National Margarita Day…will you be celebrating? Frozen or on the rocks? Are you a Jimmy Buffet fan? If so, what’s your favorite JB tune?

Once we get to our son and daughter in law’s tomorrow evening a margarita will be in order for sure. On the rocks with no salt, please. Not a Buffet fan that I know of. Do you ever wonder who makes up these National whatever days?

8. Insert your own random thought here.

We are close to the season of Lent and I am always so thrilled to see my Lenten Rose blooming during this season. Lent begins on March 1st and I’m considering what I might set aside during this time. Growing up and beyond we did not observe Lent. We always observed Good Friday and Easter in special ways but never really talked about Lent. Lately we have been more contemplative, adding readings and choosing to do without certain things during the 40 days of Lent. Do you observe Lent?

Linking up with Joyce from This Side of the Pond for Hodgepodge Wednesday. Thank you Joyce for asking the questions!

I hope to visit later tonight as we’ll be on the road much of the day. Hand/wrist update: It’s something that should get better without any major intervention. It is feeling better already. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers!

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15 thoughts on “That’s Fishy…”

Enjoyed reading your post. I didn’t even think of Flipper! I loved that show and Sea Hunt. Now I’m remembering when I couldn’t think of anything while writing my post. Enjoy your Empty Nest years, I’m sure you will find your spot very soon!

Hi Ellen: I hesitate to offer advice since I don’t know you, and this has probably been suggested, but my sister and I both find that wearing a wrist brace at night until the inflammation calms down really works for us. Safe travels across the mountains! Krista Sent from my iPad

You are so cute! I’ve caught one fish in my life. When I was thirteen. I don’t even like to eat fish and wasn’t all that enamored of the idea of catching one. But my friend was kind of pushy. ‘Don’t worry,’ she told me. ‘In this lake there’s a rule that you can’t keep the fish unless it’s bigger than this!’ She held her hands apart at a comforting distance. ‘And trust me,’ she said, ‘we’ve been fishing here a long while and you NEVER catch fish big enough to keep!’ So I threw my line in with reluctance. Of course, a short while later, I caught a huge trout! She didn’t listen to my appeal to throw the fish back in and instead took it home herself. I went home thinking that this poor fish was fine til I came along. He was probably the biggest fish that lake had ever seen. The weary fishermen nearby had probably been trying to conquer him for years. No doubt, I thought, he had a nickname like ‘Old Tom’ or ‘The King’, and I’d ended his reign. Needless to say, with an imagination like mine, I didn’t care to go fishing again!!!

I used to fish when I was a little girl with just a pole and string. : )
Went deep sea fishing once about 35 years ago and was the first one to catch a fish.
Not been fishing since and I have never wanted to. : )
That is some amazing fish.

This was such fun to read, Ellen, right from the picture of you and your dad (and little brother?) and the fish right through the grunion and on to your margarita preference and thoughts on Lent. This is why I like to read blogs.

Good to hear your wrist will be O.K.! By now you have landed at your son and DIL’s home and are having a nice visit. Love the vintage photo of you with the fish and your dear dad. I remember my parents fishing a similar fish by the bucket full – they were called smelts. Lent was never part of our upbringing either – fasting and praying on Good Friday was always what our church and family observed. Enjoy your pre-baby visit!

I am experiencing a limited version of your “fish out of water” life. Ron has been off for a month now (his doctor wants the surgical wound completely healed before he returns to work) and life is different. Not bad at all, just different.

I am sure that your California getaway made the winter days brighter! Can you believe it’s nearly March?!